keating



March 17, 1964 J. v. KEATING SELF THINNING COLLAPSIBLE CIGARETTE PACKAGEFiled Sept. 14, 1959 l0 Sheets-Sheet 1 AlNvEN'ToR Jerome V. Keating BY/fw/ ATTORNEY March 17, 1964 J. v. KEATING 3,125,213

SEEE THINNING coLLAPsIBLE CIGARETTE PACKAGE Filed sept. 14, 1959 1osheets-sheet 2 FIGJZ.

Jerome V. Keating ATTORNEY March 17, 1964 .1. v. KEATING SELF THINNINGCOLLAPSIBLE CIGARETTE PACKAGE 10 Sheets-snee Filed Sept. 14, 1959INVENTOR E Jerome V. Keating ATTORNEY March 17, 1964 J. v. KEATING SELFTHINNING COLLAPSIBLE CIGARETTE PACKAGE Filed Sept. 14, 1959 10Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR Jerome V. Keang ATTORNEY March .17, 1964 .1. v.KEATING SELF THINNING COLLAPSIBLE CIGARETTE PACKAGE INVENTOR Filed Sept.14, 1959 FIG.33.

ATTORNEY March 17, 1964 .1. v. KEATING SELF THINNING COLLAPSIBLECIGARETTE PACKAGE Filed Sept. 14, 1959 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR JeromeV. Kating ATTORNEY March 17, 1964 J. v. KEATING 3,125,213

SEEE THINNING coLLAPsIELE CIGARETTE PACKAGE Filed Sept. 14, 1959 10Sheets-Sheet 7 26o\ l l I I I I Il I I I I I March 17, 1964 J. v.KEATING SELF THINNING COLLAPSIBLE CIGARETTE PACKAGE Filed Sept. 14, 195910 Sheets-Sheet 8 1N`VENT0R Jerome V. Keating ATTORNEY March 17, 1964 J.v. KEATING 3,125,213

sELE THINNING coLLAPsIBLE CIGARETTE PACKAGE Filed Sept. 14, 1959 10Sheets-Sheet 9 3,0 F|G.5o.

S? F|G.53.

INVENTOR Jerome V. Keating 'wf/M ATTORNEY March 17, 1964 .1. v. KEATINGSELF THINNING COLLAPSIBLE CIGARETTE PACKAGE 10 Sheets-Sheet 10 FiledSept. 14, 1959 INVENTOR Jerome V. Keating ATTORNEY United States PatentO 3,125,213 SELF THINNING COLLAPSIBLE CIGARETTE PACKAGE Jerome V.Keating, 34-21 77th St.,

` Jackson Heights, N.Y. Filed sept. 14, 1959, ser. No. 839,655 Claims.(Cl. 20G-41) This invention relates to a selfathinning collapsiblepackage and more particularly to packages for contain ing cigarettes andthe like goods that need to be kept from being crushed as the package iscollapsed.

This application is a continuation-in-part of the U.S. Patent No.2,904,l69 and relating to collapsible cigarette packages and in whichthere has been disclosed a self. thinning cigarette package thatcombines the advantages of the cigarette box with the advantages of thesoft cigarette bundle or pack. The front and rear of the package isstiffened throughout the full area thereof so as to protect thecigarettes against being broken or crushed as if they are in a box andas the cigarettes are progressively used, permits the package to becollapsed and made smaller as is the inherent advantage of cigarettebundles or packs. For the stiffening of the front and back of thepackage, rigid stiifening plates are made fixed and secure to thewrappers of the package. The packages thus have a rigid front and backand flexible sides bottom and sometimes top, the variation being that insome forms of the invention the top is open. Various forms of theinvention suitable for easy processing have been needed yet maintain thefeatures and the advantages of both the box and pack and the addedsubject matter of the present application is to supply this need.

In instances, instead of two wrappers one wrapper has suiiiced, the samebeing foil paper, and the need for an inner foil wrapper has beeneliminated. Such packages require a top composed of foil paper and isfolded over the cigarettes to complete the enclosure and is subject torepeated opening and closing to permit the extraction of the cigarettes.This foil paper or tinfoil can be used with either side out. Glue andother adhesive provide constructive material to join and integrate theparts of the package together. The box effect or rigid front and rearwalls are provided by iixing stiffening plates or panels of cardboard orother rigid or stiff materials to the panel formations of the wrapper byadhesive, staples, clips, fasteners, or any other suitable means. Thestiff front and rear of the package also may be obtained by impregnatingor coating of the front and Vrear areas of the package with plastic-likematerial or substances that create a hard, rigid front and back area.The stiifening plates for reinforcing and making rigid the frnt and backof the package are preferably made of cardboard or other thin rigidsheet material such as plastic and they can be made integral therewithor placed loosely at the inside of the Afront and back of a standardpackage but the more practical arrangement is to fasten them front andrear of the wrapper with an adhesive and to have them placed within theinterior of the package. Although, the stifening plates may for somepurposes be placed upon the outside of the package and used as an aid inlabeling. The plastic coating may be used either on the inside oroutside of the front and back of the package. The plastic exterior maycarry a gloss which would be advantageous `ICC for labeling. Thestiffening may be elfected by impregnating the paper with plastic. Thebasic effect of 'this invention is that the package becomes in effect aninexpensive self-thinning or self-slenderizing cigarette case. Thecigarette as made familiar to the public is an article of slenderelegence and the present packaging conforms thereto.

Partitions or separators are provided in the interior of the package toencourage the use of the cigarettes row by row. The rest of the packageyis made of flexible thin paper that may according to some forms of theinvention be wound around the package side and bottom with its endsbrought together at the top, this form of the invention being shown inthe above mentioned patent but with the present instances, variationsare made thereof but with the basic principle kept in mind. The exiblepaper overlaps Ithe rigid panels with small flaps which are adhered tothese panels. These flaps are secured either on the inside or outside ofthe stifiening plates but always integrated therewith.

It has been found that cigarettes as they are taken from the package,the remaining ones after the seven or eight have been removed tend tosift into two rows then into one row. Thus without any devices toencourage the use of a cigarette row by row there is inherently aprogressive automatic collapsing of the package resulting from the useof rigid front and back panel structuresl Row separators thus may or maynot be used. This automatic thinning or slenderizing feature overcomesthe disadvantage of the box so far as the requirement of a full size boxregardless of the number of cigarettes therein and yet at the Sametimehave the advantage o f the box in that the cigarettes are protected. Thecigarette case eifect is accordingly had with a cigarette package toprotect the cigarettes, as the cigarettes are removed therefrom. Thesecigarettes by the use of these panels are prevented from being twistedor otherwise deformed, crushed or broken and endures through the lastcigarette. A thin partition is preferably used to encourage the use ofthe cigarettes row by row. The purpose can be achieved also by wrappingthe center row of the cigarettes in a sheet of thin paper or cellophaneor cardboard. This paper can be fashioned into an enclosing tube and theeffect may be obtained 'adequately without fastening.

It is accordingly still and now the principal object of the presentinvention to provide a package or bundle for cigarettes and like goodswhich has reinforcing inembers in the front and back thereof to renderthe package rigid like a cigarette box but permit the progressive colflapsing of the package as the cigarettes are gradually used.

It is another object of the invention to provide a cigarette packagethat is self-thinning or self-slenderizing as the cigarettes are usedfrom the package, and so that the package may conform to the slenderelegance of the cigarette. Y

It is still another object of the invention to provide a cigarettepackage that combines the features of the two primary forms of cigarettepackaging namely, bundle or pack, and the box, to create in effect acollapsible cigarette case that is inexpensive and adapted for massproduction.

It is still another and important object of the invention to provide acollapsible cigarette package having these objects in mind wherein theparts are formed for use in mass assembly and packaging method.

It is a further object of the invention to provide simple means forstiiening a cigarette package that takes the form of stiiening plates orlayers added to the front and back of the package wrappers but leavingthe sides of the package of foldable sheet Wrapper material free topermit the collapse of the package as the rows of .cigarettes areremoved therefrom and that will maintain the remaining cigarettes in thepackage in parallel alignment with each other and kept from beingcrushed.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide on acollapsible cigarette package a cigarette row separator that may beintegrated in 'the package with the stitfening plates at the front andback thereof.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a crush proof, yetcollapsible cigarette package, having the above objects in mind, whichis of simple construction, easy to assemble and iill, inexpensive,durable, compact, of pleasing appearance, effective and eiiicient inuse.

For a better yunderstanding of the invention, reference may be had tothe following detailed description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawing, in which FIGURE '1 is a perspective view of acigarette package constructed according to one form of the inventionwith the portions cut away to show the construction,

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the stilening card members,

`FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the package affter the two rows ofcigarettes have been removed therefrom and the package partiallycol-lapsed upon the single row, and portions being broken away to showthe interior construction thereof,

FIG. 4 is an enlarged transverse elevational view of the partiallycollapsed package -as viewed on line 4--4 of IFIG. 3,

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertically-sectional view of thepartially collapsed package as viewed on line I5--5 of FIG. 3,

FIG. 6is a perspective View of a lcigarette packageV constructedaccording to another form of the invention with portions of the samebroken away to show the interior construction,

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on line 7 7 ofFIG. `6*,

, FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the outer wrapper of the package shownin FIG. 6 with plastic stiffening layers adhered to the faces of thefront and back panels,

FIG. 9 is a lay out View in plan of a package wrapper of another form ofthe invention,

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a stilening plate that is adhered tothe front and rear panels of the wrapper,

FIG. l11 is a perspective view of the package being assembled,

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the `finally assembled package,

Y FlIG. 13 -is a lay out view of a package Wrapper that has foldable topand bottom closure portions and adapted for king size cigarettes,

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a stiffening plate that is adhered tothe front and rear panels of the wrapper,

' FIG. 15 is an open perspective vie-w of the 'wrapper partiallyassembled,

FIG. 16 is a perspective vie-w of the wrapper more assembled but withthe foldable closure portions extended,

FIG. 17 is a lay out view, in plan, of a cigarette row separator for usewith the package shown in FIGS. 9 to 12,

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the cigarette row separator folded andready for insertion into the package,

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary perspective view of a package having theseparator and partially assembled,

FIG. 20 is a `fragmentary perspective view of the package bearing theseparator fully assembled,

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of a combined stiifening plate andseparator used with the wrapper shown in FIG. 9!

FIG. 22 is a fragmentary perspective view of the cornbined stitfeningplate and separator,

FIG. 23 is a fragmentary perspective view of the wrapper shown in FIG. 9with two of the combined stiffening plates and row separator of FIGS. 21and 22 assembled therein,

FIG. 24 is aylay out view of a full wrapper according to still another`form of the invention,

FIG. 25 is a perspective view-of the wrapper shown in FIG. 24 beingassembled,

FIG. 26 is a perspective view of the Wrapper fully assembled with theclosure extensions unclosed,

FIG. 27 is a lay out view of a complete package except for thestiifening plates according to still another form of the invention,

FIG. 28 is a fragmentary and perspective view of a package partlyconstructed from the wrapper shown in FIG. 24,

FIG. 29 is a fragmentary perspective view of the package fully assembledeXcept for the foldable closure portions,

FIG. 30 is a lay out view of a cigarette package constructed accordingto still another form of the invention in which the front, rear and sidepanels of the wrapper are folded upwardly from the bottom,

FIG. 31 is a perspective view of the package formed of the wrapper shownin FIG. 3() partly assembled,

FIG. 32 is -a perspective view of the same package further in process ofbeing assembled,

FIG. 33 is a lay out view of the outer wrapper of a combined outerwrapper, inner wrapper and roW separator assembly constructed accordingto still another form of the invention,

F-IG. 34 is a lay out view of the inner wrapper,

FIG. 35 is a lay out view of the row separator,

FIG. 36 is a perspective view of the row separator attached to the outerwrapper,

FIG. 37 is a perspective -vieW of the row separator and inner wrapperboth attached to the outer wrapper,

FIG. 38 is a fragmentary perspective View of the package completelyassembled but with the top left open,

FIG. 39 is a lay out view of an outer wrapper of a combined outerwrapper, inner wrapper and row separator assembly constructed accordingto a further form of the invention,

FIG. 40 is a lay out view of an inner -wrapper of this form of theinvention,

FIG. 41 is a lay out view of the row separator of this form of theinvention,

FIG. 42 is a perspective view in open -assembly of the parts of thisform of the invention,

FIG. 43 is a perspective vieW of a less open assembly of the parts,

FIG. 44 is a perspective view of the package constructed according tothis form of the invention fully assembled but with the top inner'wrapper closure open as when cigarettes are to be removed from thepackage,

FIG. 45 is a lay out view of the outer Wrapper of a combined outerwrapper, inner wrapper and row separator assembly constructed accordingto a still further form of the invention,

FIG. 46 -is a Alay out view of the inner Wrapper,

FIG. 47 is a lay out view of the roW separ-ator,

FIG. 48 is a perspective view of the row separator,

FIG. 49 is a bottom perspective view of the parts of this assemblyassembled upon one another,

FIG. 50 -is a lay out view of a wrapper of a combined wrapper andseparator assembly constructed according to a still Ifurther form of theinvention,

FIG. 5 1 is a lay out view of the separator,

FIG. 52 is a perspective View of the nished package formed of thiswrapper and separator,

FIG. 53 is a perspective view of the separator and free of the wrapper,

FIG. 54 is a perspective view of the wrapper and separator assembly withthe front panel and top open to show the interior of the package,

FIG. 55 is a lay out View of an outer wrapper constructed according to astill further form of the invention,

FIG. 56 is a perspective view of the wrapper partly assembled,

FIG. 57 is a lay out View of a package formed of a single wrapper andhaving a foldable top closure constructed according to a still furtherfonn of the invention, and

FIG. 58 is a perspective view of this wrap-per partly assembled.

According to the present linvent-ion the box feature has been achievedin various ways by the use of rigid front and back panels and partitionsor separators disposed between the rows of cigarettes.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 1 to 5, 15 represents the usualinner Wrapper that consists of a metal foil paper 16 that is wrappedabout cigarettes 18 and folded over the bottom and top of thecigarettes. An outer wrapper 19 normally surrounds the inner wrapper andbears the usual advertising material or labeling. The lower end of theouter wrapper 19 is folded into the bottom of the package over thefolded bottom end of the inner foil paper wrapper in the usual manner.According to this form of the invention, two stiffening cards or plates20 and 21 are disposed in the cigarette package so as to lie between theinner and outer wrappers and at the front and back of the package. Thesecards stiften the package and protect the cigarettes against beingcrushed and bent. The top of the inner wrapper 15 is folded down overthe cigarettes in the usual manner. The outer paper wrapper is notadapted to be folded at the top of the package so that the foil paperinner wrapper and the upper edges of the stitfening cards or plates 20and 21 will appear. The cards are made of rigid cardboard, stiff plasticor other suitable stiff sheet material.

Over the entire assembly, there is disposed the usual transparentcellophane wrapper 22 that is folded in at both the top and bottom endsof the inner and outer wrappers to finally close the package. Thiscellophane wrapper may include a tear strip disposed at the top of thepackage to release the top of the cellophane and permit access to thecigarettes through the foil paper inner wrapper 15.

In order to facilitate the removal of the first cigarette from the openpack, the cigarette is saddled in a flexible strip 2.4, FIG. 1, with theupper ends extending above the cigarette so they may be grasped andpulled to remove this cigarette from the package.

As the cigarettes are continually removed to the extent of one or tworows the front or back of the package of remaining cigarettes can bebrought toward one another to there-by collapse the flexible paper sidesof the package in the manner as shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 untilultimately there is but a single row of cigarettes remaining. Thestiffening cards or plates permit the easy collapse of the package andthe cigarettes as the package becomes thinner will be continuallysupported by the stiffening cards and prevented from being readilycrushed or bent. The package thereby serves as a cigarette box or caseto give the same protection that has been afforded by the box or case,but has the additional advantage of the bundle or pack that as thenumber of cigarettes in the package are reduced the package becomessmaller and is automatically thinned or slenderized.

Referring now to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, 30 represents an inner foil paperwrapper in which cigarettes 31 are disposed in the usual moisture tightmanner. An outer ilexible paper wrapper 32 is prepared as more clearlyshown in FIG. 8 with plastic coatings, layers, or stiff plates 33 and 34adhered to or even impregnated therewith either the inner or outer facesof back and front panels 35 and 36 of the wrapper 32. The panels mayalso be of cardboard bonded with an adhesive to either the inner orouter faces of the front and back panels 35 and 36. These panels 35 and36 are separated by side panels 37 and 38` that have securing lips orflaps 39 by which the Wrapper is joined by an adhesive to the back panel3-5. The lower edge of the paper wrapper will be folded under to overliethe folded bottom of the inner foil paper wrapper 30. The usualcellophane covering 41 is placed over the paper wrappers and folded onthe top and bottom ends to finally close the package. The usual revenuestamp 42 is placed over the top of the package and is broken when thetop is opened, FIG. 6i. The usual tear strip provided in the cellophanewrappers can be provided to remove the upper end thereof.

As the cigarettes are removed from the package to provide two rows or asingle row the flexible side panels 37 and 38 are collapsed and thepackage thinned and at the same time the cigarettes kept protected bythe plastic or cardboard stiffening layers or plates on the outerwrapper 32. Similarly, the stiffening means can be provided on thecorresponding front and back panels of the inner wrapper.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 9 to 12, 50 represents generally alayout of the paper package of flexible foil paper in which the frontand back panels indicated respectively at 51 and 52 of the wrapper arejoined respectively at the opposite sides of flexible side panels 53 and54 that join a bottom panel 55 along respective fold lines 56 and 57.The front panel 51 -is covered with glue or other suitable adhesive towhich a sti'ening plate of cardboard or plastic 57 is adhered. Thisstiffening plate is shown alone in FIG. 10 and the panel 52 of thewrapper is similarly provided with adhesive by which a similarstiffening plate 57 is adhered. These stifening plates will cover thefull area of the front and black of the package. The front panel 51 hasa flap extension 58 that is connected to an extension 59 of the flexibleside panel 53 and can be folded inwardly over the cigarettes along lines6) and 61. The rear panel 52 has a flap extension 62 that is joined witha flap extension 63 of the side liexible panel 54 and can be foldedalong lines 64 and 65. The front panel with the stilening plate 57thereon is folded over along line 66 and upwardly on fold line 56. Thepanel 52 with stiffening plate 57 is folded inwardly toward the frontpanel along fold line 67 and upwardly on the fold line 56 of the bottom55. Flaps 68 and 70 are folded upwardly on the fold line 56 from thebottom 55 and joined along the inside bottom edge of the front and rearpanels 5l and 52 to which the plates 57 are joined. The side panel 54has a flap 69 that is adhered to the vertically-extending edge of thefront panel 51 and the side panel 53 has a liap 71 that is similarlyadhered to the vertically-extending edge of the back panel 5,2. Thestiffening plates 70 can overlie the flaps adhered to the panels or theflaps may be adhered to the inner faces of the stiffening plates. Thispackage is assembled as best illustrated in FIG. ll and when the partshave been finally adhered together the top flap portions 58, 59, 62 and63 are folded inwardly in the same manner as a cigarette package isfolded at the top to provide the closure therefor as best shown in FIG.12 and over which the revenue stamp 72 is extended and secured to theupper parts of the front and rear panels. This package is preferablymade of foil paper with the foil layer being inside and the outer paperlayer being on the outside for the labeling and the flaps and stilfeningplates adhered to the foil layer. VIf desired, of course, the foil couldlie on the outside and the paper could be within the inside. Thecigarettes will be arranged in the usual manner within the package. Thiswrapper will constitute the entire package and there is no need for aninner wrapper. Access can be had to the package in the same manner asitis had to any cigarette package by breaking the revenue stamp 72 andopening of the flap closure portions.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 13 to 16, there is shown a cigarettepackage formed from a blank 75 formed of metal foil paper used with thefoil layer inside and has a front panel 76 having adhesive to whichthere is joined along a fold line 77 a fiexible side panel 78 that is inturn joined by a fold line '79 to a rear adhesive panel 80 that is inturn joined by a fold line S1 to a side panel 82. On the front panel 76is a small joining flap 83 that is provided with adhesive on its frontface as shown in FIG. and which will be joined to the inner face of theflexible side panel 82 to form the package as shown in FIG. 16.

Rigid stiffening plate 84 formed of paper, cardboard or plastic sheet isfixed by the adhesive on the front and back panels 76 and 36 and asshown in FIG. 15 prior to the: folding of the wrapper to assume theshape shown in FIG. 16. The front and back panels respectively havefoldable ap portions 85 and 86 at the bottom and 87 and 8S at the topwhich are foldable over the edges of the. panel. The bottom fiapportions are joined by foldable flap extension 89 on the bottom of theexible side panel 78 and the flap extension 911 on the side panel 82 anda fragment 91 of the small joining flap S3 that may be. joined with theap portion 90.

The flap portion S7 of the front panel 76 is joined to a flap extension92 of the side panel 7 8 and a flap exten-I sion 93 of the side panel 82that will be joined by the: fragment 94 of the joining ap 83. Once thepanels are joined together in the manner shown in FIG. 16 with thestiffening panels 34 provided therein the bottom and top flap portionswill be closed and the package filled with the cigarettes. The top flapportions are then folded inwardly over the top of the cigarettes and canbe folded outwardly for access thereto. With this package it is notnecessary' to previously Wrap the cigarettes in an inner wrapper. Asmall cellophane outer wrapper can. be extended over the completedpackage and a revenue stamp can be placed over the top of the package.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 17 to 20, there isV shown apartition or row separator 95 used in the interior of the package shownin FIGS. 9 to 11 in order to encourage the removal of the cigarettes rowby row. This separator is made of thick or preferably less stiff paperthan the stiffening plates and is folded to assume the shape shown inFIG. 18. The separator has a panel 96 that is joined by a small sideadhesive panel 97 to a large panel 98 and foldable thereon along lines99 and 1011. On the panel 96 is a spacer portion 161 joined therewith bya fold 102 and to which a fastening adhesive flap 103 is joined alongthe fold 104. The panel 9S is joined along a fold line 1115 to a spacerportion 196 and foldable along a line 197 is an adhesive flap.

This separator 95 is placed in the wrapper shown in FIGS. 9 to 12the'adhesive flaps 1113 and 103 are adhered to the front and rear panels51 and 52 and underneath the stiffening plates 57.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 21 to 23, there is shown a modifiedseparator 119 in which the separator panel is combined with thestiffening plate. The stiffening plate 111 is connected by a smallspacer portion 112 with a row separator 113 of less height than thestiening plate to provide easy access to the ends of the cigarettes. Thestiifening and separator plates 111 and 113 are respectively foldableupon the spacer portion along folded lines 114 and 115. There are two ofthese combined stiffening plates and separators, one for each side ofthe package. They will be adhered to the wrapper as shown in FIGS. 9 to12 by the adhering of the stiffening plate therewith. The rows ofcigarettes are placed between the stiffening and separating portions andthese portions thereby encourage the removal of the cigarettes by a rowat a time.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 24 to 26, 11S represents the blankpaper wrapper from which the package is formed. This paper wrapper has abottom panel 119 from which there extends from one side a flexible sidepanel 120 with a front panel 121 connected thereto.

To the other side of the bottom there extends a exible side panel 122having a rear panel 123 extending laterally therefrom. The front andrear panels 121 and 122 are folded upwardly respectively on bottom foldlines 124 and 125 with the fiexible side panels 120 and 122 and inwardlyrespectively on vertical fold lines 126 and 127, as shown in FIG. 25.The panels are joined together with front and rear stiffening plates 128and 129 by adhesive and by flaps 131B and 131 on the bottom 119 andflaps 132 and 133 on the flexible side panels 120 and 122. The iiaps 135and 131, 132 and 133 may have adhesive as indicated for securement withthe edges of the stiffening plates 123 and 129.

A closure extension 134 is foldable on line 135 to flexible side 129 anda closure extension 136 is foldable upon line 137 over flexible sidepanel 122. Adhesive flaps 138 and 139 are connected to the upper edge ofthe respective front and rear panels 128 and 129 while adhesive flaps149 and 141 of the extension 134 is extended downwardly to finally closethe package and to overlap the extension 136 and also connected to theupper edge of the front and rear panels. It will be apparent that theentire package has flexible bottom, side and top panels and that withthe stiffening plates on the front and rear panels, collapse of thepackage is permitted only therearound while protection is given to thecigarettes from the front and back. The blank may be formed of metalfoil paper with the foil layer inside and the paper layer outside forlabeling purposes, the stiffening plates being `adhered to the foillayer. This package may also serve `as the outer wrapper and thecigarettes disposed therein with the usual inner wrapper.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 27 to 29, 144 represents a wrapperfrom which the cigarette package is formed. This wrapper has a flexiblebottom paper panel to which front and rear panels 146 and 147 arerespectively joined by fold lines 143 and 149. Stiifening panels 159 and151 are respectively joined inside the package by adhesive provided onthe respective panels 1416 and 1417. The rear panel 147 has respectivelyside panels 152 and 153 joined to it on the opposite sides thereof byfold lines 154 and 155 that respectively have bottom attaching aps 156and 157 that are adhered by adhesive areas 158 and 159 to the bottom 145upon the side panels being folded inwardly in the manner as illustratedin FIG.28. The side panels 152 and 153 respectively have adhesive flaps16) and 161 that are adhered to the sides of the front panel 146.Extending from a fold line 162 on the rear panel 147 and the side panels152 and 153 are respectively a foldable top portion 163, 164, 165 whichare joined by extensions 166 and 167 of respective adhesive flaps and161 for adhesion with a top portion 168 extending from the front panel146 from a fold line 169. The top extension portions 163, 164, and 16Sare folded inwardly as best seen in FIG. 29 to close the package and canbe unfolded to provide access to the cigarettes lying therewithin.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 30 to 32, 17) represents a wrapperformed of a flexible bottom 171 to the sides of which there isrespectively joined by fold lines 172 and 173 front and rear panels 174and 175 that respectively have joined by fold lines 176 and 177 topportions 178 and 179. From fold lines 180 and 181 of the flexible bottom171 there extends side panels 182 and 183 having respectively inwardlyfoldable extensions 184 and 135 that are respectively foldable inwardlyon fold lines 186 and 187. The side panel 182 has front and rear sidefiaps 188 and 189 that are respectively joined with the sides of thefront and rear panels 174 and and which has adhesive thereon for joiningthe respectively front and rear stiffening plates 190 and 191. Theextension 184 has flaps 192 and 193 that are joined respectively byadhesive areas 194 and 195 on the respective top portions 178 and 179.The side panel 183 has side adhesive flaps 196 and 197 that haveadhesive to which the rear stitfening plate 191 is joined upon beingadhered to the rear panel 175 to which the flaps 196 and 197 are alsoadhered. The extension 185 has side adhesive aps 198 and 199 that arejoined respectively by adhesive areas 200 and 201 on the respectivefront and rear top portions 178 and 179. The extensions 184 and 185 maybe of any suitable length to be easily folded inwardly with the topportions 178 and 179 to adequately close the top of the package andwhich can be opened outwardly therewith to provide access to thecigarettes. The stiifening plates 190 and 191 are adhered fully to theinner faces of the front and rear panels to render the panels stiffWhile allowing the bottom and side panels and top closure to becollapsed as the cigarettes are removed row by row.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 33 to 38, there is shown a packageformed from an outer wrapper 205, FIG. 33, having front and rearstiifening plates 206 and 207, a double row separator 209 all joinedtogether to provide the complete package and an inner tinfoil wrapper208. The outer wrapper is formed of flexible paper and has a front panel210 and a rear panel 211 with adhesive to which the stiffening panels206 and 207 are respectively joined. These panels 206 and 207 arerespectively connected along fold lines 212 and 213 to a sidecollapsible panel 214. A side panel 215 is joined by a fold line 216 tothe opposite side of the front panel 210 and has an adhesive flap 217.The panels 210, 211, 214 and 215 and adhesive flap 217 respectively haveextensions that are joined together to provide a bottom fold portion inportion 218 and a top fold portion 219.

Also adhered to the outer wrapper is the double row separator 209 havingseparator portions 220 and 221 that are joined to one another by anintermediate connecting portion 222 and foldable respectively thereoveron fold lines 223 and 224. The connecting portion 222 is adhered to theside panel 214 of the outer wrapper 205 as best seen in FIGS. 33 and 36.

The inner wrapper 208 has a front panel 225 that is joined along thefold line 226 to a side panel 227 that is in turn joined along a foldline 228 to a rear panel 229. A side panel 230 is joined along a foldline 231 to the rear panel 229. The front panel 225 has a securing flap231 that is joined by adhesive with Vthe side panel 230 with thecigarettes being enclosed therein. The panels 225, 227, 229, 230 andconnecting flap 231 respectively have bottom extensions that areconnected together to provide a foldable closure portion 232. The upperend of the side panel 227 is cut away to provide an open end slot 233 sothat the inner wrapper 208 can be connected to and behind the rowseparator 209 in the manner best shown in FIG. 37. The separator 209 andthe inner wrapper 208 can have the cigarettes contained therein andthereafter the cigarettes with the inner wrapper adhered by theconnecting portion 222 of the separator 209 to the v side panel 214 ofthe outer wrapper on an adhesive area 222 and the outer wrapper nallyhaving the bottom and top foldable closure portion 218 and 219 foldedthereover to close the package.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 39 to 44, there is also disclosed apackage comprising an outer wrapper 235, a full inner Vtinfoil-wrapper236 and a double row separator 237. The outer wrapper 235 has a frontpanel 238 joined on a fold line 239 with a side panel 240 and from afold line 241 a rear panel 242 is joined. A side panel 243 is joined tothe opposite side of the rear panel 242 by a fold line 244 and has anextension 245 extending from a fold line 246. Stiifening plates 247 and248 are respectively secured to the front and rear panels 239 and 242 byadhesive as shown. An adhesive area 249 is provided on the side panel240 for the securement thereto of the cigarette row separator 237 in amanner to -be later described.

The inner wrapper is formed of foil paper and is adapted to fullyenclose the cigarette. It comprises a rear panel 250 joined respectivelyby fold lines 251 and 252 with side portion 253 and 254 which are inturn respectively joined by fold line 255 and 256 with respective splitfront panel portions 257 and 258. These panel portions have a bottomportion 259 connected to their lower ends and a top portion 260connected to the upper ends both of which are adapted to be folded overthe bottom and top ends of the cigarettes. The side panel 253 has anopening 261 therein that is registered with the adhesive area 249 of theside panel 240 of the outer wrapper 235 so that access can be hadtherewith for the securement thereto of a connecting portion 262 of theseparator 237 that joins panels 263 and 264 together on respective foldlines 265 and 266.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 45 to 49, there is shown a packageformed of an outer wrapper 267, a cigarette row separator 258 and aninner Wrapper 269. The outer wrapper 267 comprises a front panel 270having a stiffening plate 271 adhered thereto and foldably connected toa side panel 272. A rear panel 273 is foldably connected to side panel272 and has a stifening plate 274 adhered thereto. A side panel 275 isfoldable upon the rear panel 273 and has a large connecting flapextension 276 foldable along line 277 thereon. A fold in bottom portion278 extends the full length of the blank and is foldable inwardly alongthe lower edges of the several panels and extensions to provide a bottomclosure portion. The side panel 272 has an adhesive area 279 to whichthe double row separator 268 is adhered.

This row separator 268 has separator portions 280 and 281 that arejoined by a spacer connecting portion 282 that is adhered to the wrapper267 by the adhesive area 279.

The inner wrapper 269 is formed of the usual foil paper and similarthereto except for a cut away opening 283 serving to permit theconnecting portion 282 of the row separator to the adhesive area 279 anda slit 284 extends therefrom` to permit the insertion of the innerwrapper within the outer wrapper over the connecting portion 282 afterthe connecting portion has been secured to the outer wrapper and also tomake possible the easy removal, if desired, of the inner wrapper withthe cigarettes from the outer wrapper. The inner Wrapper includes a rearpanel 285 with side panels 286 and 287 foldably connected thereto andthe side panel 287 containing the window opening 283 and slit 284. Thesplit front panels 288 and 289 are respectively foldable over the sidepanels 286 and 287 to provide the full front panel portion. Bottom andtop closure portions 290 and 291 are foldable along the bottom and topedges of the several panels in the usual manner to fully enclose thecigarettes disposed therein.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. Q50 to 54, there is shown a packageformed from a wrapper 300 and a cigarette row separator 301. The wrapper300 has a bottom 302 to which by joined lines 303 and 304 respectivesides 305 and 306 are connected. To the side 305 is connected a frontpanel 307 to which a stiffening plate 308 is adhered. The front panel307 is joined to the side panel 305 along the fold line 309. A rearpanel 310 is joined to the side panel 306 along a fold line 311 and hasa stiff panel 312 adhered thereto. The bottom 302 has connecting aps 313and 314 that are joined to the bottom edges of the front and rear panels307 and 310 as they are elevated over the bottom 302. An adhesive ap 315joins the side panel 305 with the vertical edge of the rear panel 310and stiffening panel 312 while connecting flap 316 joins the side panel306 with the vertical side edge of the front panel 307 and thestiifening plate 308. On the rear panel 310 and side panel 306 there issecured along a fold line 317 thereacross a top foldable portion 318that is joined with a similar top portion 319 extending from a fold line320 on side and front panels 305 and 307. These top portions 318 and 319are joined to one another by respective adhesive tabs 321 and 322.

The cigarette row separator 301 comprises separator portions 323 and 324joined together by respective fold lines 325 and 326 and an adhesiveconnecting portion 32'7. Spacer portions 329 and 330 are respectivelyfoldably connected to the respective separator portions 323 and 324 andrespectively have connecting flaps 331 and 332 by which the separator391 is adhered to the inner faces of the stiiening plates 308 and 312 asbest seen in FIG. 54.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 55 and 56, there is shown a wrapper340 from which is formed an outer wrapper that is open at the top. Thispackage has a front panel 341 that is connected through a fold line 342with a side opening 343 that is in turn connected through a fold line344 with a rear panel 345. Another side pmel 346 is connected through afold line 347 and an adhesive ap 348 s joined thereto on a fold line349. The front panel 341 has adhesive thereon by which a stiifeningpla-te 35) is secured. The rear panel 345 has adhesive thereon by whicha rear stiffening plate 351 is secured. The adhesive llap 348 is adheredon its underside to the stijfening plate 350 when the wrapper is foldedas shown in FIG. 56.

A bottom panel 352 having bottom side flaps 353 and 354 is joined to thelower end of the side panel 346 by fold .line 355. On the end of thebottom panel 352 is an adhesive flap 365 by which the bottom is joinedto the lower edge of the side panel 343 preferably the adhesive aps areextended underneath the stiffening plates 35i) and 351 and the adhesiveon these flaps is made available for the securement of the stifeningplates thereto and over the front and rear panels thereby securing theflap between the inner surface of the panel and the stiffening plates.

Referring now to FIGS. 57 and 58, there is shown a wrapper 360 having aportion 361 foldable over a front panel 362, a side panel 363, a rearpanel 354 and another side panel 365. Front and rear panels are joinedto the side panel 363 by respective fold lines 366 and 367. The rearpanel 364 is joined with the side panel 365 along the line 368. The sidepanel 365 has an adhesive flap 369 which is adhered to the front panel362 as the wrapper is formed and is preferably extended under thestiffening plate 37) of the front panel 362 with the adhesive thereonmade available for the securement of the stiiening plate thereto. Astiifening plate 371 is adhered to the rear panel 364. A bottom panel372 is joined to the lower end of the side panel 365 by a fold line 373.This bottom panel 372 has adhesive flaps 374 and 375 and .can be locatedrespectively under the front and rear stilening plates 37@ and 371 withthe adhesive available for the attachment to the inner face of thestiiening plate. An adhesive end iiap 376 secures the bottom 372 to thelower edge of the side panel 363. This package is preferably made offoil paper with the foil lying inside the package and the stiffeningplate adhered thereto leaving the paper plate on the exterior forlabeling purposes. The package can be fully closed by folding inwardlythe top closure portion along a continuous top line 377.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shallbe understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope ofthe present invention as delined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A self-thinning collapsible cigarette package comprising acollapsible wrapper having a foldable bottom ,panel with side adhesiveflaps, foldable side panels folded upwardly respectively from theopposite ends of the bottom panel and having stiifened front and rearpanels extending respectively therefrom but in opposite directions, thelower edges of the front and rear panels having the adhesive flaps ofthe obttom panel secured thereto, adhesive flaps on the respective sidepanels respectively adhered to the side edges of the respective frontand rear panels, whereby the contents of the package will be 12prevented from being bent and crushed while permitting the package to beautomatically thinned as the cigarettes are removed.

2. A self-thinning collapsible cigarette package as delined in claim l,and fold-in extensions connected to the the top of the stilened frontand rear panels and their side panels and foldable inwardly togetherover the top of the cigarettes to enclose the same and free to be openedto provide access to the cigarettes.

3. A self-thinning collapsible cigarette package as defined in claim 2,and a collapsible cigarette row separator having an intermediate spacerportion and two panels foldable thereon, spacer portions foldablerespectively upon the respective opposite sides of the respective panelsand atl-hesive flaps respectively secured to the respective side spacerportions by which the row separator is adhered to the stilened front andrear panels, said intermediate spacer portion being adhesively joined tothe foldable side panel at the opposite side of the package.

4. A self-thinning collapsible cigarette package cornprising acollapsible wrapper formed of foldable sheet material and having abottom panel with side adhesive flaps, side panels folded upwardlyrespectively from the opposite side ends of the bottom panel and havingfront and rear panels extending respectively therefrom but in oppositedirections, the lower edges of the front and rear panels having theadhesive flaps of the bottom panel secured thereto, adhesive aps on theside panels respectively adhered to the side edges of the respectivefront and rear panels and a combined stiflening plate and row separatorfor each of the front and rear panels and comprising a stiiiening plateadhered to the panel, a spacer portion foldable from one side thereofand a row separator plate foldable from the spacer portion and lyingparallel to the stiffening plate.

5. A self-thinning collapsible cigarette package comprising a wrapperformed of foldable sheet material and having a bottom panel, front andrear panels foldable upwardly from the bottom panel and opposing sidepanels foldable upwardly from the opposite ends of the bottom panel,said side panels having adhesive flaps connecting the side panels to thesides of the front and rear panels, stiffening plates integrated withthe front and rear panels and the side panel flaps.

6. A self-thinning collapsible cigarette package as defined in claim 5,and said front, rear and side panels having foldable extensions joinedtogether to provide an inwardly foldable top closure portion.

7. A self-thinning collapsible cigarette package comprising acollapsible wrapper formed of foldable sheet material and having abottom panel, side panel folded upwardly from the bottom panel, frontand rear panels folded inwardly upon the side panels, stiening meansprovided on the front and rear panels, one side and front panel havingfoldable closure portions extending therefrom and the other side andrear panel having foldable closure portions extending therefrom andadapted to be combined with the foldable closure portions of the frontand one side panel to provide a top closure, adhesive flaps on thebottom and side panels to secure the wrapper panels together.

8. A self-thinning collapsible cigarette package as delined in claim 7,and a row separator comprising separator portions joined together by anintermediate spacer portion that is adhered to one of the wrapper sidepanels, end spacer portions on the separator portions each of whichhaving an end spacer portion and each of the latter end spacer portionshaving an adhesive llap securing the separator to the front and rearpanels of the wrapper. 9. An outer wrapper for a self-thinningcollapsible y cigarette package formed of foldable sheet material andcomprising front and rear panels, stiffening means provided on the frontand rear panels, llexible side panels interconnecting the front and rearpanels, a securing iiap for holding the wrapper together, a bottom panelextending from one of said side panels and having adhesive flapssecuring the bottom panel to the front, rear and other side panel.

10. A self-thinning collapsible cigarette package formed of foldablesheet material and comprising front and rear panels, stifIening meansprovided on front and rear panels, flexible side panels interconnectingthe front and rear panels, a securing ap for holding the wrappertogether, a bottom panel extending from one of said side panels andhaving adhtsive flaps securing the bottom panel to the front, rear andother side panel, and a foldable top portion extending from said front,rear and side panels to provide an openable closure for the package.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 899,212Fiske Sept. 22, 1908 14 Cornell May 25, Ulmer Nov. 19, Lewis Dec. 29,Long May 2, Labombarde Jan. 11, De Escobales June 7, Reynolds Sept. 4,Straus June 28, Butler June 28, Francisco Ian. 25, Stiner June 6, KleinMar. 19, Sattler May 21, Brarnhill Jan. 2l,

FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Dec. 17, Great Britain Aug. 15,

1. A SELF-THINNING COLLAPSIBLE CIGARETTE PACKAGE COMPRISING ACOLLAPSIBLE WRAPPER HAVING A FOLDABLE BOTTOM PANEL WITH SIDE ADHESIVEFLAPS, FOLDABLE SIDE PANELS FOLDED UPWARDLY RESPECTIVELY FROM THEOPPOSITE ENDS OF THE BOTTOM PANEL AND HAVING STIFFENED FRONT AND REARPANELS EXTENDING RESPECTIVELY THEREFROM BUT IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS, THELOWER EDGES OF THE FRONT AND REAR PANELS HAVING THE ADHESIVE FLAPS OFTHE BOTTOM PANEL SECURED THERETO, ADHESIVE FLAPS ON THE RESPECTIVE SIDEPANELS RESPECTIVELY ADHERED TO THE SIDE EDGES OF THE RESPECTIVE FRONTAND REAR PANELS, WHEREBY THE CONTENTS OF THE PACKAGE WILL BE PREVENTEDFROM BEING BENT AND CRUSHED WHILE PERMITTING THE PACKAGE TO BEAUTOMATICALLY THINNED AS THE CIGARETTES ARE REMOVED.